Inspiring the Sick

So I'm sick, well kinda sick now, well sick enough that the only pic I want of myself is one where I'm almost unrecognizable... so here's me (see pic with mysterious eyes between a cup and a hat) sitting at the computer trying to figure out my website needs (I know I know I need anything because I have nothing...) anyway, I decided to catch you all up on life here. It's cold, very very cold! The thermostat reads 67 but I think it MUST be wrong because I'm freezing...but maybe it's just because I'm sick. Hanna is running around in a T-shirt. Hmph one of us is not wearing appropriate clothing for this cold situation.

Anyhow, being sick I decided to get inspired and grab my two willing victims (aka. Hanna and Rush) and do a "sick" inspired photo shoot. I think Hanna was way more into it than Rush. We kept having to explain to him that the "cone" was pivotal to the whole thing and he MUST wear it...(see the pic above for the dirty look he was giving me when I finally took it off and explained to him that it was all in good fun!

Fingers are freezing and I have to cook some very garlic-ish chicken for dinner so this post will have to wait to be completed until later tonight....

This is Lizzy. Hanna and I had the pleasure of having a fun (and very chilly) evening shooting pictures of Lizzy. We were "taking senior portraits" but as you can see we drifted away from the traditional. Hanna was my assistant and let me tell you she was incredible! If anyone needs the complete package when it comes to assistants then hire Hanna. She can sing, dance, tell jokes and even hold a strobe when needed! BTW for anyone who doesn't know, Hanna is my 9 year old neice.

Well I'll show you more shots of Lizzy but I'm off to go help some passengers with some bags at my glorious job with Delta airlines. (my newest job)

And I seem to have taken over this blog but this is really about the lives of Jason and I, he's been an amazing demolition hero and has exposed most of the guts of our newly purchased home in Black Mountain. I'll have to get him on here to give updates etc. (one day our little place will be amazing!)

Falala...la...what!?!

So definitely not your average Christmas photos but thought I'd pop these up here before posting the usual and blogging about our wonderful Christmas. These babies were born one night when we were brainstorming about a present for my dad. I asked Jes about doing a portrait of all three of us on a mug. (That got x-ed) Then Tim, our good friend chimed in "mug shots!"...that was all he had to say, everybody's invisible lightbulbs flicked on!!! That's it! It's a pun for Jason and a literal for my dad (he's a prison psychiatrist now.) A late night photo shoot was planned, felonies were contrived and make-up was applied and...TADA!!!! Three rough characters were born!


After receiving his mug, my dad has affectionately dubbed the three of us "PBA", "Quick Draw" and "Flasher"...hmmm for some reason I think I might have suffered from this a little more than my other two accomplices!

Merry Christmas! Normal pics to come...hope you all had a beautiful holiday and celebration surrounded by everyone you love.

and by the way...don't know what happened but in my rush I must've linked these paragraphs to a photo "click" here to see what's hidden beneath.

"HAVE A HOLLY, JOLLY CHRISTMAS....!"

This one goes out to all of those poor souls who have ever attempted the holy grail of Christmas....a perfect Christmas card! (I couldn't help posting this snapshot. It makes me laugh because it says so much about trying to co-ordinate a parent and a child and get exactly what you are hoping for.)

These poor reindeer nearly tore their antlers off trying to get the perfect pic...two people in one pic, late at night is nothing less than a big disaster waiting to explode! But don't worry, they kept going and finally we had a whole bunch of holiday fun to choose from.

Nan

So I had banned myself from taking pictures and reading books until my website is up and running, but as we all know that hasn't happened yet. It's still a ridiculous mess and I realized I felt like I was missing so much by not taking pictures... and since my threat hadn't made me work any faster, once again, my camera is back on the job. Jes, Jason and I (Hanna too occasionally) have been snapping away through the holiday celebration and Jason's birthday. Maybe I'll get some of those photos up...just maybe...

But for now I was thinking about the blog and our little handful of friends who were amazing and re-discovered my new posting and decided that you guys needed to see something new.

I think you all have met this lovely lady but for anyone who hasn't, this is Nanette Cole, one of my beautiful grandmothers. She was gracious enough to let her camera-crazed granddaughter take some portraits of her at around 10:00p.m. this Saturday evening while everyone else was decorating our new tree.
Lately I've had this feeling that if I don't take time to do something with someone when I think of it then...what if...what if they're not around by the time I get around to it? Not that I'm expecting to lose my grandmother...I've just been thinking about all the times I've taken for granted and all the things I want to remember ...we're never guaranteed the future...I don't want to regret the past. I think that's why I love photography so much...it captures the beauty I see and keeps it for all of those other times when we need to remember. In short, that's why I pleaded with grandma to let me set up some lighting and take her portrait when most people just want to be curled up in bed- to keep the moment of her looking cozy in her jacket in the retro chair by the fire. I'm glad she's such a good sport!

So this is one of the several frames we took that night. This is Nanette Cole: born in Boston, raised a traveling "gypsy" enjoying the depression with her brother, mom, and interior designer dad, married my grandpa and raised my mom, uncle and aunt in Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the most amazing gourmet cooks and seamstresses I have ever know!

It's That Time of Year!

It has been over a year since we've posted anything on this poor site so what better day to bring it back to life than Jason's birthday! I love when his birthday rolls around because for the next 8 months he can't pretend like I'm 2 years older than him. (One day I'm going to figure out how to become younger than him but until then I'll enjoy the parts of the year when we only seem 1 year apart.)

Happy Birthday Jason! I'm blessed to celebrate another year of having him in my life. I can't imagine how much laughter (and everything else in between) I would've missed without my crazy man!

Besides all of the other wonderful things that I ask him to do, he's also my part-time model. My niece, Hanna, says he looks like a mysterious super hero in this picture and I couldn't have said it better my self!

Happy Birthday Superflightsuitman! I love you!

...I wonder after all of this time, who will discover this post first? Anyone? ...maybe it will just remain as a birthday secret ...

An Ode To Sweet Ellen Mekay

Oh saddness...I was a bazzillion miles away on your special baby day!
But don't worry I was still there...or at least here...thinking of you there hoping that you felt loved as you opened tiny Ellen treats and feasted on delicious sweets and shared this special day with those who love you the most. (except me that is!)


So in honor of Ellen and our collective "SILLINESS" here's an ode to your little toot:

Silly sweet Ellen Mekay
That’s what you’ll be
You’ll see one day.

And little you I can’t wait to see:

You’re cutie toes
And bunny nose
With nose triangles
And silly tangles
Bouncing in your curly twirly hair
…ok that’s not fair…
I’m not sure about the hair,
Straight or curly
It will be perfect most surely

I can’t wait for the days
I get to watch you skipling in your footie p.j.’s
And dipling your little fingers into everything sweet
Swirling paint and making messes with your silly dancing feet

And I bet you’ll have a silly button
Just like your mommy and me
And be a crazy wonderful little “punkin”
‘Cause that’s all you need to be…

I’m sure you’re gonna be one of the funniest toots anyone did meet
But if your not and instead your shy, loving and sweet…

Then you’re you and that’s the best
And just as good to me!

And would you call me “Auntie”
Would you would you please?
And Grow up proud of your mommy
Because she’s the bestest you’ll ever need.

I love you love you Ellen Mekay
And can’t wait for the day….

THAT YOU’RE FINALLY HERE!

I know , I t has been FOREVER since we've blogged. Sorry for making you wait and wait. Internet here is unpredictable and slow as molasses (or so the saying goes) and I've been creating resumes and begging for jobs (which I'm failing at so far) but no more excuses, you're right it has been WAY too long. I've collected a bunch of pictures to catch you up on our Hawaii happenings, so in the next day (or two) we should have a much better post than this little sample.
Until then... I posted this picture of Rush romping on the beach at Kaena Point State Park
I was pondering the saying "It's a dog's life" and immediately thought of our crazy, and must I admit, spoiled, pup and all the fun he gets out of life. Ok I know, the meaning of this saying would change drastically depending on third-world versus western dogs...and strays versus loved pets but wouldn't you just love to have a moment of pure joy like he's having here!?! (just before he nearly tumbled me over and splattered sand all over my lens...oh well)
Random, I know, but just thought I'd share with you my photographic interpretation of this simple phrase...and make an attempt at distracting you from the fact that we're not keeping up with our posts.

And I promise, one to two days and you'll have a better post to enjoy...thanks for hanging in there!

(off the coast of Makapu'u point)

So this is what happened...I went into our photo files to grab some pictures and publish a post to catch you all up on our Christmas, New Years and good ole' Hawaii happenings BUT true to my procrastinating self, I found this photo and forgot about my mission. I need Jason...the secret of our blog's existence is my husband! He's amazing and has done about 99.999% of the posting. What have I done you ask? Changed the color and promised to put up a post. Well, I actually have changed the colors on this blog a bazzillion times and as for putting up a post...hmm, instead I've changed the color in a photo we've already posted or played around with photos on our computer that have nothing to do with the post in need.

Why did I put up this picture?...well, so you'd have something new to look at while I admit my failures and beg my husband to unearth this blog from the pile of posts it should have!

So hug your husbands, hug your friends, family and even the dog because, you can run but you can't hide from the fact that you need others! (or at least I do!)

THE MOMENT...

I know it has been forever since we've put up a post. Our Mac decided to crash a couple of times and give those Mac geniuses a bit of a headache but now it's back better than ever and I don't know where to even begin.

So instead of starting at a logical point I decided to share with you these moments in time.

I've been thinking about a lot of things lately. (Being unemployed will do that to a girl.) One of my ponderings was about my future and what it would be. As most of you know I've loved photography since...well, since I can remember (thanks to the artistic abilities of my parents and watching my dad photograph and teach me how to use his Nikon). The catch is that the style of photography I want to do is artist/editorial pieces. I believe God gives us "eyes" to see different things and those things that touch our hearts turn into passions. I know many photographers have a passion to capture a wedding day or a portrait of a family or take photos of stock products etc. In fact, our wedding photographers, Jenny and James of Visio Photography are inspiring because they are doing exactly what they believe called to do...they have a passion to be more than just photographers but to also bring meaning deeper than just the day to the beginning of two people's lives together. I love that!

I love that but I don't feel that passion. So in the process of years of thinking, observing and praying about how my life can be more than just my life, I've discovered the story. Have you seen pictures that seem to tell a story, they capture a moment in time and seem to begin a story... That's what I want to do! That's my passion... to observe the moment and help tell the story through art. So now that I have known what I feel a desire to do, it's time to share. I have crates full of slides and files full of memory that I keep collecting... just collecting.

The thing about the arts is they are scary - terrifying in fact! You can dream about it all you want but when it really comes down to it, art is meant to be shared. And that my friends is the terrifying part (at least for a procrastinating/perfectionist like yours truly.)

So I decided (as I was sitting, wondering about my life) that this was it...time for photography therapy...time to share some shots with you, all of you and finally get over the fact that you may hate it or you may think it's not even worth a second look (and for those that totally missed it...scroll up a bit on your screen) or finally, some might love it like I do.

I took these shots a couple weeks ago at the Triple Crown on the north shore. Not what you would think of as surfing competition shots? No, but I loved the moment : calm before the salty storm.

Love it / hate it , either way I wanted to start sharing with you... and maybe I'll become brave again and share some more (without the long commentary next time - I promise).

~ Thanks for "listening"

Quote of the week.

"Evenings were peaceful, smoke settling in the quiet air to soften the dusk, lights twinkling on the ridge we would camp on tomorrow, clouds dimming the outline of our pass for the day after. Growing excitement lured my thoughts again and again to the West Ridge...

There was loneliness, too, as the sun set, but only rarely now did doubts return. Then I felt sinkingly as if my whole life lay behind me. Once on the mountain I knew (or trusted) that this would give way to total absorption with the task at hand. But at times I wondered if I had not come a long way only to find that what I really sought was something I had left behind."

Thomas F. Hornbein, Everest: The West Ridge

In my newest book I read this quote and thought about all of you back home. Hawaii is beautiful but is no Everest in the slightest or even something that we feel that we have to "accomplish". All I know is that we do want you to know how much we truly miss all of you back home.

Random pic of the week.

Last week I rode my bike down to the beach (around 9 miles round trip) and stumbled upon this guy that was only on the beach about 15 min and caught this Oio fish. Native to Hawaii, this fish is really bony and you can't make much out of it except fish cakes. What they do is scrape the meat off and mix it with other ingredients and deep fry it.

I'll Show You My Thanksgiving; You Show Me Yours

I hope everyone had a beautiful THANKSGIVING surrounded by friends and family. We did it a little different this year (much smaller) because everyone is spread out around the country. My poor husband was stuck on a island in the Pacific but don't worry, Thanksgiving went on as usual there too. His mom was sweet and gave me the recipe for his favorite Sweet Potato Pie which I made and left for him to enjoy on Turkey day! So a little piece of home made it all the way out there to hula land.


I've been having a great time back home seeing all the dear friends I've missed so much and celebrating a much smaller than usual Thanksgiving with family. A very good friend of mine and I were talking about traditions. She asked what Cuban traditions we added to the meal and I was puzzled by the fact that we didn't do any...well until I walked out of her house and realized: Cuba doesn't have Thanksgiving! (I don't think the pilgrims ever made it to the land of rhythm and tobacco.) I thought about it and asked, why couldn't the Cubans and the Pilgrims meet? From now on, my thanksgiving will be infused with a little Latin flavor and to start it all off, Diablitos a Caballo and Angelitos a Caballo snuggled up to the turkey and dressing on our Thanksgiving table.

{Thanksgiving is not just about the food, everyone had to take time for photo shoots!}

Last Thanksgiving Jason's brother Walt asked me what my family does for Thanksgiving. Being married you get to have a front row seat to view how another family does the holidays. It's fun to realize the things that your family does that someone else's doesn't and vice versa while getting ideas for the things Jason and I will eventually make our family traditions.

With that thought, I'll share a little bit of our holiday with you. What are special things you do and eat?

{Jes and Ash were trying to re-enact romantic photos from their wedding but I had to fire Jes because she wouldn't take it serious.Next time I'm hiring professional models!}

Our menu included:
Breakfast: Homemade Fruit Salad (Grandpa usually makes this but I've apprenticed under him for years so this year it was my job...several tears dropped into the bowl as I remembered Dan Cole and how much I miss him, but isn't that what the holidays are about: sharing love and remembering others.)


Lunch: Butternut Squash and Pumkin Soup (compliments of chef Ash)
Diablitos a Caballo and Angelitos a Caballo for an appetizer (my Cuban fusion)


Dinner: Turkey of course! (Basted by Mom with white port wine reduction with chicken broth and giblets.)
Stuffing (mmm...grandmas delicious homemade stuffing with onions, chicken broth, olives, pecans, bread crumbs, celery, parsley, herbs etc.)
Gravy (Ash's delicious contribution to the turkey)
Garlic Cream Green Beans
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (Ash again...I can't wait till he has his own restaurant!)


Dessert: Peppermint Chocolate, Espresso Hazelnut, and Pecan Chocolate Pastry Rolls (Jes is the talented baker. She makes things fluffy and sweet and I just end up with flat or burnt. Oh well)
Raspberry, Strawberry, Cranberry and Pecan Mold topped with a Lemon Sour Cream Sauce (This has been a family must since I was little when my mom randomly found it in a children's cook book. This year Grandma Nan made sure this was perfect for the feast.)
Valpolicella and Chianti wines (I wanted to try a Valpolicella because I'm always curious to try new things.)

During dinner we went around the table and said the things we were thankful for. It was mom's idea and a nice way to stop and be grateful because we are so blessed!

Mmmm. I can't wait for Christmas! Jason, Hanna, Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Pam, Daniel, Sylvia, Jason, Lauren, Cindi, Carol and everyone else who couldn't be together this year. I missed you all but I hope you had a wonderful holiday surrounded by friends and love!

{Photos compliments of all the house photographers...I'm a little fuzzy about who did some of them.}